Overbed table



y 14, 63 L. w. HEYL 3,089,743

OVERBED TABLE Filed Sept. 2. 1960 2 Sets-$heet 1 ATTORNEYS.

L. W. HEYL OVERBED TABLE May 14, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 galbn YpATTORNEYS.

IN NTOR. qewzflf 4 BY Filed Sept. 2. 1960 Patented May 14, 19633,089,743 OVERBED TABLE Leo W. Heyl, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor toInstitutional Industries, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of OhioFiled Sept. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 53,821 4 Claims. (Cl. 312227) Thisinvention relates to an overbed table, and more specifically, to anoverbed table having an improved table top construction.

An object of the present invention is to provide an overbed tableequipped with a concealed tray and constructed in such a way that a userneed not remove articles from the table top when the tray is to be used.Another object is to provide an overbed table in which the usable tabletop area does not diminish when the tray and mirror are exposed, unlikeconventional overbed tables wherein a portion of the table top is hingedand is rendered unusable as a supporting surface when it is in itsraised or inclined position. A further object is to provide an overbedtable having a smooth and unbroken table top surface. In thisconnection, it is a specific object to provide an overbed table having aone-piece table top without the usual cracks or crevices which are foundin the tops of conventional overbed tables and which pose problems inthe effective cleaning and sterilization of such tables. A still furtherobject is to provide an overbed table in which the article or articlesplaced within a storage tray or compartment beneath the table surfacewill be fully protected by the table top when that top is in itsretracted position.

Other objects will appear from the specification and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an overbed table embodying thepresent invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the table illustrated in FIGURE1;

FIGURE 3 is a broken elevational view similar to FIGURE 2 but showingthe mirror in one of its raised positions;

FIGURE 4 is a broken elevational view similar to FIGURE 3 but showingthe mirror in another of its positions;

FIGURE 5 is a broken elevational view similar to FIGURES 3 and 4 butshowing the mirror in still an other of its raised positions;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the table showingthe structure when viewed from above with both the table top and thevanity removed;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 77 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view similar to FIG- URE l but showingthe table top in retracted position.

In the illustration given, the numeral 10 generally designates anoverbed table having a standard 11, base 12 and table assembly 13. Base1 2 includes a leg 14 which is adapted to extend beneath a bed and whichis equipped at its end with a foot element 15. If desired, a wheel orcaster may be secured to or substituted for the foot 15. The base isgenerally T-shaped in configuration, the leg 14 constituting the stem ofthe T and cross member 16 constituting the cross portion of the T.Prefera bly, the legs of the cross member are equipped at their endswith casters 17.

The standard is rigidly secured at its lower end to base 12 and containsa screw member (not shown) having an operating handle 18 at its upperend. Frame 19 of the table top assembly slidably receives the standardand is threadedly supported by said screw so that upon rotation of saidhandle the elevation of the table assembly may be adjusted.

The present invention is concerned primarily with the table top assembly116. This assembly essentially comprises a frame 19 adjustably securedto the standard, a vanity 20 removably supported by the frame, and asmooth imperforate table top 21 slidably carried by the frame.

Referring to FIGURES 6 and 7, it will be observed that the framecomprises a plurality of interconnected longitudinal and transversehorizontal members. Specifically, the frame has a pair of side members22 bridged by an end member 23 and a pair of longitudinallyspacedtransverse members 24- and 25. The connecting portion 26 of the framewhich connects that frame to the standard is bolted or otherwise securedto a pair of longitudinal frame elements 27. Elements 27 are spacedcloser together than side members 22 and are disposed between transversemembers 24 and 25.

In the illustration given, transverse members 24- and 25 are formedintegrally with a base plate '28- which extends beneath longitudinalelements 27 and also projects laterally beyond the side members 22.Those portions of transverse members 24- and 25 which also projectlaterally beyond the side members are apertured, as indicated in FIGURES2 through 5, for slidably receiving the support bars 29 of the slidingtop structure 21.

Transverse members 23 and .25 and side members 22 define a compartmentfor removably receiving vanity 20. Looking to FIGURE 6, it will beobserved that both of the transverse members 23 and 25 are provided withopposing channel-shaped members 30 and 31. The two channel members aretipped on their sides so that they face each other. As shown mostclearly in FIGURE 7, member 31 is provided with a top wall or flange 32and a lower wall or flange 33. Similarly, member 30 has an upper flange34 and a lower flange 35. A horizontal strap 36 extends longitudinallybetween the channel members and bridges the lower flanges 33 and 35respectively. As shown in FIGURE 7, the strap, along with flanges 33 and55, supports the tray 37 of the vanity.

Within channel member 31 is a leaf spring 38 having a pair of springarms facing the other channel member 39. The distance between theopposing inner surfaces of the two channel members is greater than themaximum longitudinal dimensions of the tray 37 so that the tray may bemoved longitudinally against the force of spring 38 when it is in themounted position of FIGURE 7. It will be noted that the range oflongitudinal movement of the tray is greater than the overhang of flange34 so that when the tray is urged longitudinally against spring 38 theopposite edge of the tray will be released from beneath flange 34 andthe tray may be easily removed from its compartment. Conversely, thetray may be easily slipped into position by urging one of its edgesbeneath flange 3-2 of the channel member 31, then moving the trayhorizontally to compress the spring 3 8, and finally lowering theopposite edge of the tray beneath the flange 3-4- of the other channelmember while at the same time releasing the tray for movement underthe'influence of the leaf spring. I

Vanity 20 comprises the tray 37 and a mirror 39 con nected to the trayby pivot arms 40. As shown in FIG- URES 3 through 5, this arrangementpermits the mirror to assume a variety of positions and, accordingly, itmay be adjusted to suit the needs or preferences of the user. Links 40are pivotally secured at their lower ends to the sides of tray 87 andare pivotally attached at their upper ends to the sides of mirror 39. InFIGURE 3, the weight of the mirror rests upon the tray and the armsserve as braces to prevent the mirror from dropping rearwardly. Themirror may be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction (when viewed as inFIGURE 3) until the parts assume the relative positions illustrated inFIGURE 5. In addition, the arms may then be urged rearwardly about theirpivotal connections to the tray so that the center of gravity of themirror is disposed beyond the trays outer limits, as shown in FIGURE 4.As already pointed out, the entire vanity is readily removable from thesup porting frame and, if desired, it may be reversed in position withinits compartment so that the overbed table may be used with equalfacility from either side.

The top structure 21 for the overbed table comprises a generallyrectangular top member 41 providing a smooth, uninterrupted andimperforate table surface. The horizontal top member is spaced aboveframe 13 by depending legs 42 secured to the opposite ends of supportrods or bars 29. Rods 29 are disposed in parallel relation on oppositesides of frame 13 (FIGURE 6) and are slidably received within theopenings of transverse members 24 and 25 so that the entire topstructure 21 may be slid between the extended position shown in FIGURES1 and 2 and the retracted position shown in FIGURES 3-5 and 8. It willbe noted that legs 42 are of suflicient length so that top member 41clears operating handle 18, frame 13 and collapsed vanity 20 as it isslid between its two positions.

When the top structure is in its extended position it overlies the frameand vanity and, since the top member is imperforate, protects the vanityas well as any articles contained therein from damage which mightotherwise be caused should liquids or particulate matter drop throughcracks or openings in the top surface. Thus, a user may place articleswithin the tray of the vanity and then proceed to use the top member ofthe extended top structure 21 as a supporting surface without fear thatthe articles might become damaged through seepage or leale age throughthe top.

When use of the vanity is required, the patient or nurse simply urgesthe top structure into its retracted position so that it overlies thestandard and reveals the folded mirror. The mirror may then be raisedfor use in any of the three positions shown in FIGURES 3-5. The patienthas full access to the tray and mirror without any loss of table topspace. The top structure has been simply displaced or movedlongitudinally and, as a result, any articles supported upon that topbefore movement into retracted position may remain undisturbed on thatsurface.

While in the foregoing I have disclosed an embodiment of the inventionin considerable detail it will be understood by those skilled in the artthat many of these details may be varied without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In an overbed table, a base, a standard mounted upon said base, atable structure mounted upon said standard, said structure comprising aframe extending horizontally from one side of said standard adjacent theupper end thereof and being aflixed at one end thereof to said standard, said frame being provided with an open-topped compartment spacedlaterally from said standard, a unitary table top mounted upon saidframe for horizontal sliding movement in its entirety between a firstposition and a second position, and a mirror carried by said frameadjacent said compartment and movable between raised and loweredpositions, said mirror when in lowered position being disposed below thelevel of said table top, said top when in said first position coveringsaid compartment and lowered mirror and when in said second positionbeing disposed above said standard and exposing said mirror and saidcompartment.

2. In an overbed table, a base, a standard mounted upon said base, and atable structure mounted upon said standard, said table structurecomprising a frame extending horizontally from one side of said standardadjacent the upper end thereof, an open-topped tray removably carried bysaid frame adjacent the free end thereof, a unitary table top mountedupon said frame for horizontal sliding movement in its entirety betweena first position covering said tray and a second position revealing thesame, and a mirror hingedly mounted adjacent said tray for movementbetween raised and lowered positions, said mirror when in loweredposition extending generally horizontally below the level of said tabletop and being concealed by the table top when the same is in its firstposition.

3. In an overbed table, a base, a standard mounted upon said base, atable structure mounted upon said standard, said structure comprising ahorizontal frame and a unitary table top providing a smooth unbroken topsurface, said table top being mounted for horizontal sliding movement inits entirety upon said frame, said table top being provided with a pairof horizontal parallel slide bars disposed therebelow, said frame beingprovided with apertured lateral members slidably receiving said bars formovement of said table top, said frame also being provided with a mirrorand an open-topped compartment, said mirror being hingedly mounted formovement between lowered and raised positions, said mirror when inlowered position extending generally horizontally below the level ofsaid slidable table top, said table top being slidable between a firstposition covering said mirror when the same is lowered and a secondposition exposing said mirror for movement into raised position.

4. In an overbed table, a base, a standard mounted upon said base, and atable structure mounted upon said standard, said table structurecomprising a frame etxending horizontally from one side of said standardadjacent the upper end thereof, an open-topped tray removably carried bysaid frame adjacent the free end thereof, a unitary table top mountedupon said frame for horizontal sliding movement in its entirety betweena first position covering said tray and a second position revealing thesame, and a mirror hingedly connected to said tray for movement betweena lowered position therein and any of a plurality of selected raisedpositions, said removable tray and the mirror connected thereto beingreversibly mounted upon said frame for use from either side of saidtable.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS747,581 Boule Dec. 22, 1903 2,535,112 Woody Dec. 26, 1950 2,547,642Heuser Apr. 3, 1951 2,609,261 Parker Sept. 2, 1952 2,733,110 Berner etal. Jan. 31, 1956 2,749,197 Smith June 5, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 739,507France Nov. 3, 1932

2. IN AN OVERBED TABLE, A BASE, A STANDARD MOUNTED UPON SAID BASE, AND ATABLE STRUCTURE MOUNTED UPON SAID STANDARD, SAID TABLE STRUCTURECOMPRISING A FRAME EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID STANDARDADJACENT THE UPPER END THEREOF, AN OPEN-TOPPED TRAY REMOVABLY CARRIED BYSAID FRAME ADJACENT THE FREE END THEREOF, A UNITARY TABLE TOP MOUNTEDUPON SAID FRAME FOR HORIZONTAL SLIDING MOVEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY BETWEENA FIRST POSITION COVERING SAID TRAY AND A SECOND POSITION REVEALING THESAME, AND A MIRROR HINGEDLY MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID TRAY FOR MOVEMENTBETWEEN RAISED AND LOWERED POSITIONS, SAID MIRROR WHEN IN LOWEREDPOSITION EXTENDING GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY BELOW THE LEVEL OF SAID TABLETOP AND BEING CONCEALED BY THE TOP WHEN THE SAME IS IN ITS FIRSTPOSITION.